Isabella of Savoy, Hereditary Princess of Modena

What people wore

Artisans Kept Festive Clothes in Chests

Artisan families often owned a modest wardrobe, such as two or three sets of clothes kept in chests, including fine garments reserved for Sundays and festive occasions.

Daily life

Languages used in everyday life

Franco-Provencal was the language of everyday activities and family life for most people, while French was used by the highest classes.

News and letters

Price of sending private letters

Private letters could be sent for 7-9 Milanese soldi per ounce, a price comparable to the cost of buying three or four loaves of bread.

Music

The Popular Pavane Dance

The solemn, slow-moving pavane was a popular dance used by nobles for grand entries and festivities, often accompanied by drums, oboes, trombones, and violins.

What it cost

Wheat price surge in Parma

The controlled price of wheat in Parma's public market surged from 117.18 soldi in 1588 to a peak of 402 soldi per unit in 1592 during a severe subsistence crisis.

Getting around

Travel was primarily on foot

For the vast majority of people in the Duchy of Savoy, traveling meant going on foot, as they lacked the means for other forms of transport.

Work

Incentives for skilled workers

Duke Emmanuel Philibert offered ten-year tax exemptions to attract foreign artisans and professionals who could teach their technical skills to local subjects. Additionally, charity institutions sometimes trained poor individuals, allowing them to gain skills and potentially join guilds under favorable conditions.